“Twelve million dollars — that’s not a lot of money,” Yeoman said. “… If that ocean is at a certain level, every bit of water in the surrounding area is going to go to that same level, and there’s nothing you can do about it. So you got to take that as a reality. That would cost you a hundred trillion dollars to try to stop the ocean. You can’t do that. And so you got to look at how you’re going to spend $12 million and minimize the damage.”

The committee is due to submit a plan to use Bellmore and Merrick’s $12.1 million by next spring. It will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the golf course clubhouse at Merrick Road Park.

Richard Landau, whose house is a block from AcQua and, like the restaurant, suffered serious damage during Hurricane Sandy, said after the meeting, “We’re talking 11 months since the last hurricane. Oct. 29 is right around the corner. They’re talking about doing stuff by March. What if we have another hurricane before then?”

Comments

Our community suffered the most the days after the storm because of no heat and no electricity. I hope this committee uses the funds to help us endure less suffering after the next storm. There is absolutely no way to prevent us from getting hit with the next storm but we can prepare. Helping us get back to our homes the day after the storm. Helping to get to the people that stayed and weathered the storm. Allowing electric to be turned back on within a day or two. What we endured after the storm was a crying shame. Days for the gas meters to be checked. No electric for days because the transformers in the front of the homes, on the telephone polls, need a simple switch turned on with a long yellow rubber pole. Days of unnecessary suffering. The best was when homeowners were ripped off and had to pay hundreds of dollars because they were told they had to have a certificate, from the fire department, in order to get electric to their home. It was a crazy disturbing night mare and it escalated out of control when the Town building department employees walked the street trying to enter homes to get people to get permits for the repair work that needed to be done. Crying shame. Hope we use the funds to be prepared and organized in the event of the next storm. A step by step outline telling each company/department what needs to be done in order for the public not to suffer more than 2 days following the next storm. Wishing this newly created committee the very best and thank you for your service. Nancy Coletto